Nomos Glashütte is synonymous with casual fun, and the Saxon company did not disappoint with the Ahoi Atlantik, an awesome summer dive watch with a dark blue dial.

In 2013, the release of the Ahoi, Nomos Glashütte’s first diver’s watch, was a significant departure from the brand’s usual slim, 33–38 mm, Bauhaus-style dress watches.

When I first saw the Ahoi I wasn’t sure what to think of it, but after trying it on, I found that its 40 mm size was spot on.

I was not convinced about the Ahoi’s light-colored dial as being optimal for a dive watch, but in 2014 Nomos released a dark blue lacquered dial on the Atlantik, which transformed the Ahoi watch completely. I could easily imagine myself strolling down the beach or the boulevard wearing the Ahoi Atlantik.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

Fun in the sun: Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik

The Ahoi Atlantik is a fun watch. It comes on a textile black strap that is light and comfortable to wear in tropical climates and at home in the water.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik strap (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

Along with its cool looks, the Atlantik has a functional 200-meter water resistance rating – which is ample for both snorkeling and scuba diving.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik lume shot (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

The hour markers are coated with cool grey-colored Super-LumiNova. Although I should caution that the lume on the dial is not bright, which means the visibility in low-light situations is average.

This watch is great for the pool and snorkeling, but seeing the dial in lowish visibility scuba diving may not be acceptable. I tested it out in the pool and found the legibility there to be acceptable.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik dial closeup (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

The lacquered neon orange subsidiary second hand is a nice touch and gives the dial a colorful personality.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik’s new movement: DUW 5001

Recently, Nomos Glashütte updated the movement in the Ahoi Atlantik from the older Epsilon caliber to the new automatic DUW 5001 movement (which is based on the Epsilon caliber).

The very attractive back of the Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

This movement contains the in-house escapement known as the Nomos Swing System with a tempered blue balance spring. It has a power reserve of 43 hours and boasts classic Glashütte characteristics like the typical three-quarter plate, Glashütte ribbing, perlage, tempered blue screws, and sunburst brushing. The stop-seconds mechanism (which hacks the seconds when the crown is pulled out) makes accurate time setting easy.

The case height is just under 11 mm, balancing out the larger 40 mm diameter of the case perfectly: the case appears neither too big nor too small; it is just right.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik crown guards (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

The crown guard on either side of the screw-down crown is interesting. I think judgment of this could go either way depending on how you feel about crown guards in general and these in particular. But for all the different types of crown guards I have experienced, Nomos made this one so subtle that the brand’s designers could almost be joking with us in typical Star Wars fashion: “This is not the crown guard you are looking for.”

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik on the wrist (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

The anti-reflective coating on the slightly curved crystal is excellent. You can see the dial clearly at various angles. And I am especially happy that it allows full appreciation of the beautiful deep blue dial.

The majority of watch companies make the blue dials of their dive watches in a lighter shade: have a look at examples by Tudor, Omega, and Sinn. But Nomos took a bold approach with dark blue – the kind of color you find in the ocean depths with little sunlight.

To balance out the dial, Nomos used pink gold-colored hands with green lume and numerals, utilizing contrast to make it brighter.

Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik (photo courtesy Scott Stikiewitz)

I like the Ahoi Atlantik as a fun summer watch that I would happily wear to the beach, on a cruise, or at a resort.

The Atlantik retails for $4,060 and its reference number is 552. Nomos also offers a date complication option for $600 more.

For more information, please visit www.nomos-glashuette.com/en/ahoi/ahoi-atlantic-552.

Quick Facts Nomos Glashütte Ahoi Atlantik
Case: 40.3 x 10.6 mm, stainless steel, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Movement: automatic in-house Caliber DUW 5001, 43-hour power reserve, 3 Hz/21,600 vph frequency, Glashütte three-quarter plate, Swing System escapement
Functions: hours, minutes, small hacking seconds
Price: $4,060/€3,060

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